Maccabi Petah Tikva Eyes Former Hapoel Jerusalem Defender Yao After Season Opener Win

Maccabi Petah Tikva started their 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season with a strong 2-1 victory over Hapoel Kiryat Shmona on Saturday. Following the match, coach Ziv Arie confirmed that Yao Illouz, a former Hapoel Jerusalem player, arrived for a trial with the newly promoted club. Arie noted that Yao, who recently landed in Israel, chose to rest instead of attending the game, raising some concerns due to his recent injury and lack of recent playing time.

Yao has been without a club this season and did not play last year. In the 2024/25 season, he made 23 appearances for Hapoel Jerusalem, contributing one assist. Prior to that, he played briefly for Virtus Verona in Italy’s Serie C, which was relegated to the fourth division. His career also includes stints with Lugano, smaller Italian clubs, and Inter Primavera.

Coach Arie emphasized that Yao is not yet signed and that the club will observe him starting from the next day. The team is also searching for an additional foreign defender and possibly another player, depending on the mood of club chairman Avi Luzon, who is known for his competitive drive. Arie expects Luzon’s mood to improve this week, potentially influencing further signings.